Balloon mounting cup and stick assembly

ABSTRACT

An adaptor for a standard balloon cup with a stem with a hollow core having an inside diameter and that receives a straw. The adaptor allows the use of a straw with an outside diameter different from the inside diameter of the balloon cup stem core. The adaptor has a first portion engaging the stem core and a second portion receiving the straw. The straw may be either larger or smaller in diameter than the balloon cup stem core.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adaptor that permits sticks orstraws of various sizes to be used with a standard balloon cup.

The use of balloons for various functions and purposes has becomeextremely popular. Often, the balloon is secured to the end of a stick.In order to keep the balloon in a desired and secured location withrespect to the stick, the balloon is typically received in a cup. In thepast, the tail of the balloon has been manually threaded in a hole inthe cup sidewall, then wound in slots provided in the sides of the cupto maintain the balloon securely in a seated engagement in the cup. Thenthe cup is secured to a stick or straw.

An industry standard has developed for balloon cups, which includes astandard inside diameter for the hollow core of the stem that receivesthe stick or straw. Corresponding straws have been used which securelymate with the standard cup stem.

It is desirable to be able to use either a smaller or larger straw withthe standard balloon cup stem. For example, larger straws could be usedto reduce the chance of the straw bending or breaking. Smaller strawsmight be used in situations where the standard straw is not appropriatefor reasons of aesthetics or otherwise.

There is the need for an adaptor that permits either a smaller or alarger straw to be used with the standard balloon cup.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal object and advantage of the present invention is that itpermits a straw or stick with an outside diameter different from theinside diameter of the stem of a standard balloon cup to be used withthe standard balloon cup.

Another object of the invention is to permit the use of a straw or stickwith an outside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the ballooncup stem.

Another object of the invention is to permit the use of a straw or stickwith an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the ballooncup stem.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are achieved byproviding, for a standard balloon cup with a stem with a stem corehaving an inside diameter, an adaptor comprising a first portionengaging the core, and further comprising a second portion having asecond core with a second inside diameter different from the insidediameter of the stem core and receiving the straw.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a standard balloon cup with aninserted balloon shown in phantom and a standard straw.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the use of the adaptor of thepresent invention to use a larger straw with the standard balloon cup.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the use of the adaptor of thepresent invention to use a smaller straw with the standard balloon cup.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A standard balloon cup of the prior art is shown in FIG. 1 in use with astandard straw. The cup C includes a hole H into which the tail of theballoon is inserted. The balloon cup C includes a pair of slots S intowhich the tail of the balloon is then wound. The cup C also includes astem ST having a hollow core CO of a standard inside diameter, typicallyabout 0.2 inches. A standard straw R having an outside diameter matchingthe inside diameter of the core CO is then inserted into the core CO asindicated by the arrow in the Figure.

The present invention is generally shown in the Figures as referencenumeral 10.

In one embodiment (FIG. 2), the adaptor 10 comprises a first portion 12having an outside diameter D1 substantially the same as the insidediameter D of the stem core CO of the stem ST. The adaptor 10 furthercomprises a second portion 14. The second portion 14 further comprises ahollow core 16 having an inside diameter D2 larger than the insidediameter D of the stem core CO of the stem ST. A straw or stick 18 canbe inserted into the hollow core 16. The straw or stick 18 will have anoutside diameter D3 matching the inside diameter D2 of the hollow core16. The outside diameter D3 will thus be larger than the outsidediameter of the standard straw R. Preferably, the adapter 10 furthercomprises a third portion 20 between the first portion 12 and the secondportion 14, the third portion 20 having sides 22 that smoothly andcontinuously taper from the second portion 14 toward the first portion12.

In a second embodiment (FIG. 3), the adaptor 10 comprises a firstportion 12 having an inside diameter D1 substantially the same as theoutside diameter D′ of the stem core CO of the stem ST. The adaptor 10further comprises a second portion 14. The second portion 14 furthercomprises a hollow core 16 having an inside diameter D2 smaller than theinside diameter D of the stem core CO of the stem ST. A straw or stick18 can be inserted into the hollow core 16. The straw or stick 18 willhave an outside diameter D3 matching the inside diameter D2 of thehollow core 16. The outside diameter D3 will thus be smaller than theoutside diameter of the standard straw R. Preferably, the adapter 10further comprises a third portion 20 between the first portion 12 andthe second portion 14, the third portion 20 having sides 22 thatsmoothly and continuously taper from the first portion 12 toward thesecond portion 14.

The first portion 12 may either be inserted into the stem core CO, as inFIG. 2, or the stem ST may be inserted into the first portion 12, as inFIG. 3. In either case, the straw 18 may have an outside diameter thatis either larger or smaller than the outside diameter of the straw. Forexample, but without limitation, the outside diameter of the straw 18may be 0.3125 inches while the inside diameter of the second portion 14may be 0.325 inches. Typically, the inside diameter of the stem core COis 0.20 inches and the outside diameter of the first portion 12 isslightly less than 0.20 inches.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materialssimilar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in thepractice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods andmaterials are described below. All publications, patent applications,patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated byreference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law andregulations. In case of conflict, the present specification, includingdefinitions, will control.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it istherefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made tothe appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicatethe scope of the invention.

1. In a standard balloon cup with a stem with a stem core having aninside diameter, an adaptor comprising a first portion engaging thestem, and further comprising a second portion having a second core witha second inside diameter different from the inside diameter of the stemcore and receiving a straw.
 2. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein thesecond inside diameter is greater than the inside diameter of the stemcore.
 3. The adaptor of claim 2, wherein the adaptor further comprises athird portion between the first portion and the second portion, thethird portion having sides that smoothly and continuously taper from thesecond portion toward the first portion.
 4. The adaptor of claim 1,wherein the second inside diameter is smaller than the inside diameterof the stem core.
 5. The adaptor of claim 4, wherein the adaptor furthercomprises a third portion between the first portion and the secondportion, the third portion having sides that smoothly and continuouslytaper from the first portion toward the second portion.
 6. The adapterof claim 1, wherein the first portion is insertable into the stem core.7. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the stem is insertable into the firstportion.
 8. An adaptor for a standard balloon cup, the balloon cuphaving a stem with a hollow core having an inside diameter and receivinga straw, to adapt a straw with an outside diameter different from theinside diameter of the balloon cup stem core, the adaptor comprising afirst portion engaging the stem core and a second portion receiving thestraw.
 9. The adaptor of claim 8, wherein the second portion has aninside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the balloon cup stemcore.
 10. The adaptor of claim 8, wherein the second portion has aninside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the balloon cup stemcore.
 11. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the first portion isinsertable into the stem core.
 12. The adapter of claim 8, wherein thestem is insertable into the first portion.
 13. An adaptor for a standardballoon cup, the balloon cup having a stem with a hollow core having aninside diameter and receiving a straw, to adapt a straw with an outsidediameter different from the inside diameter of the balloon cup stemcore, the adaptor comprising a first portion engaging the stem core anda second portion receiving the straw, and further comprising a taperedportion between the first portion and the second portion.
 14. Theadaptor of claim 13, wherein the second portion has an inside diameterlarger than the inside diameter of the balloon cup stem core.
 15. Theadaptor of claim 13, wherein the second portion has an inside diametersmaller than the inside diameter of the balloon cup stem core.
 16. Theadapter of claim 13, wherein the first portion is insertable into thestem core.
 17. The adapter of claim 13, wherein the stem is insertableinto the first portion.